Adjustable pedestal for combined desks and seats



July 7, 1925.

4 1,545,410 7 A. D. EDWARDS ET AL ADJUSTABLE PEDESTAL FOR COMBINED DESKSAND SEATS Filed Dec. 31, 1923 Patented July 7, 11925.

1 UNITEDJISTATOES PATENT omc ALEEEDE. EDWARDS AND GEORGE H. ABBOTT, orELGIN, ILLINOIS, AssIGNoRs 'ro WOODRUFF 8t EDWARDS OF ELGIN,

ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ADJUSTABLE PEDESTAL, FOR COMBINED nEsxs AND SEAT$.

Application filedIleceinber 31, 1923. Serial m5. 683,562.

To all whom it may concern: I Be it known that we, ALFRED D. EDWARDS vand GEoRoE H. ABBOTT, both citizens of the UnitedStates, andresiding atElgin, inthe county of Kane, and State of Illinois, have inventedcertain new and:usefulImpr0vements in'Adjustable Pedestals for; Combined Desks and Seats, of which the fol lowing is a specificatiom j Thisinvention which relates generally to furniture has particular referenceto school desks and seats of the kind which use a standard in pedestalform, the purpose being to provide a serviceable, ornamental, anddependable device of this characterfon which may be mounted forplus andminus vertical adjustments a seat,as well as a desk, many of the partsbeing interchangeably constructed,

, An exemplification of our invention is set forth in the accompanyingdrawingwhere- Figure 1 is a side view, partly in elevation and partly insection, of the standard, together withsea-t and desk brackets mountedthereon; and

Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged fragmentary details in section taken,respectively, on lines 2-2 and 3+3 of Fig. 1. i

. The major elements of this invention coms prise a standard or supportin the'form of a pedestal A on which are mounted seat and desk bracketsB and C, respectively; It is formed in the front wall of the pedestal asis alsoa similar slot (not shown) in its rear wall, these two slotsextending fora substantial substance in the middle region of thestandard. The general constructionof the standard and its two brackets,as describedabove, forms no part of this invenapplication abovereferred. to.

:tion, but 'is made the subject of our prior The seat bracket mayconsist of compan-I ion castings havinga su table configuration on theirtop for the support of'a seat 'fiX- ture per se. The walls of thisbracket are extended downwardly therefrom and rearwardly toward thetapering front side of the pedestal. Thebracket sides-lleach ex} tendtoward the'pedestal and provide between, them anfo'pen space such thattheir rearward edges 12 areaadapted to bear against the standard at'widelyseparated points. It will be noted from an inspection of the deskbracket Cin Fig; 1 which,in all substantial respects, is the same theseat'bracket, that the rearward edge-s12 which engage with the standardare also slanted in conformity withthe taper of the pedestal walls, thisrelation being preserved in all the various different tical adjustment.

, The bracket may be heldagainst lateral V shifting upon the'pedestal byproviding on the latter some sort of an'element such as arib or spline13,loca:ted preferably just above and below theslot 7, thisjelement 00operating with a'complementary groove 18 formed on the bracket. By somesuch cooperating means as these, the bracket is guided in its adjustingmovementswith independence of" any other elements. Due to the chamberedconstruction of the bracket which, in this respectyisj like that ofthepositions of versupporting standard, the slot? is concealed I in allpositions of vertical adj ustme'ntof the bracket, its 'walls beingproperly dimensioned for this purpose. p p j y We prefer to form eachofthe brackets of two complementary cast sections whose 0 .5 n meetingedges are in substantial alignment with the plane whichcoincides withthe long axis of the standard, As shown in the drawing, the two sectionsthus uniting. to form the bracketare designated as 14 and 15. Formed atintervals on the section 14 are lugs 16 lapping past thejuncture line 17formed In the meeting edges of the two sections, an other similar lugs18Yare extended from the section 15 at intervals to lap past thisjuncture line, as best shown in Fig. 2. Avery few of such lugs w llsuffice to hold the two sections against'relative shiftingmovementseither in a direc tion which is vertical or toward "or awayfrom the standard, the lugsbeing preferably grouped in pairs andinengagingrelation. lVith the sections thus assembled, we employ tierods '19,'asmany a'smay be necessary, to connect them fixedly together.-

-For securing the two brackets upon the pedestal in anydesired'p'osition of adjust-1 ment, we provide for each means asfollows:

A bolt is inserted through asu'itable lat eral opening formed in theseat bracket front wall which may be thickened, asrepressure.

toward each otherfone from each section manila of the bracket. Thesewebs, together with other similarly extending walls 26,,constitute fontle vbracket a rear-ward wall which'lies adjacent to the, frontjwall of pthe pedestal.

In the assembly of the brackets upon the pedestal the bolt 20 and nut 22are first secured loosely in place.. In order that the nut may takeup'the position shown in Fig. 1, we have p rovided between. the webs 25and walls 26 aclearance'27 sufficient for the insertion of the'foot endof the nut. The nut body may'ther'eupon rest against the lower edges ofthe. webs to provide support for the bracket. Additional supportingmeans, which is also adjustable we provide by a Vertically extendingboltBO which lies interiorly of the pedestal, the head31o'f this boltresting exteriorlythereof'on the cross wall 61' This latter bolt engageswithin a second threaded opening 32 formedein the head portion of thenut, the axisfo'f this latter opening being transverse to that 'whereinthe bolt 20 is received; fBy the use 7 of an appropriate tool, suchas .asocket wrench, the 1 011530 may be rotated to raise o'r lower the nut 22whenever the bolt 20 is sufiicient loosened for this,purpose. VVhen thebracket is adjusted to the desiredposition, thislatter bolt is thenmanipulated to i draw the. nut outwardly with the result that thebracket' is' clamped tightly upon the pedestal in a manner to ayoidjall;play or movement; thereupon. When so] adjusted,

the support of the, bracket will be eli'ected through the Vertical bolt30, inconjunction with the 'nut "22 uponwhose body the webS 25 arerested. Preliminary togr'ea'ching'this final ad ustment, however, thefoot 2 facilidescribed.

tates the retention of the parts in their assembled relation, and forthis reason constitu'tes a desirable feature ofour-inyention.

The parts just described areduplicated for the desk bracket and accordinly like reference numerals might be applie to the correspondingset ofelements used in connection therewith. These adjusting parts arefurthermore interchangeable such that either set maybe used for theoperation of the" other bracket." In addition, either bracket may bechanged around to occupy the position of the other since the pedestalformation is duplicated on both its front andrear sidesl In the raisingand lowering movements of the two brackets, it will be noted that each.is independent of the other. and minus adjustment is provided fOI,'hO\ f'ever,due" to the sloping character of, the front and rear walls ofthe'pedestal, so that as the seat is raised", it is also'moved'rearwardly. In like'inann'er the desk ismoyed forwardly as it'fisraised. WVith an opposite adjustment ofthe two brackets, a'reVersa'linthese lateral movements is: obtained.

A plus These changes in adjustment may be effected conveniently with theaid'ot a' socket wrench,- and the parts to be manipulatedaresufiiciently accessible tonot "require any change in position of theoccupants. In additiontheiurniture article of our invention maybeadjusted through a rangesuflicient to. adapt the structure to persons ofVarious 'sizes, and for accommodating persons o'fall ages only two sizesof the arti- "cle war ordinarily" be necessary.

A combined seat and desk of the'kin'd described may be produced at areasonable costf'In appearanceit is attractive and the few placeswheredust, etc, may accumulate are easily .reached for cleaning-so thatthe article is" advantageous rfrom' a sanitary stand-pointaswellJ I liVeclaim: I

' 1. In a furniturearticle of the kind described, the combination of astandard having a vertically-slotted wall, a bracket having anaperture'd 'wall adaptedto lie adjacent the slotted wall of; thestandard, a nut ntending through the apert'ured and slotted portions ofthe two walls,'rneans on opposite ends of the nut ada'ptedto engage withthe remote side of said walls, and screw threaded means engag'ing thenut in a manner to support the same togetherWy'ith the bracket thereonin a desired position of 'vertical ad ustment upon the standard,substantially as '2I In'a furniture article ofgthe kind described, thecombination of a standard hay- 'ing a wall wherein is a'slot,1anutpositioned I and resting against a fixed portion of thestandard for'sup por'ting the nutin asele'cte'd position of adjustment,abracket associated with the standard having an apertured wall adjacentthe nut, the nut being adapted for extension through the apertured wallof the bracket to support the same, means extending'laterally from thenut end on the side of the bracket wall which is remote from thestandard adapted to maintain the nut in assembled relation with. thebracket, and other screw means connecting the bracket withtlie nut,substantially as described.

3. In a furniture arti cle'of the kind described, the combination of abracket having front and rear walls, the latter of which is apertured, anut extended through the rear wall and providing a support wh'ereon thebracket is rested, 'a bolt entered through the front wall of the bracketand engaging the nut, a standard whereon the bracket is adjustablymounted, the standard having adjacent the bracket a slotted wall throughwhich one end of the nut is extended, the nut end remote from thebracket being formed with a headadapted to engage with the side of thestandard wall which is remote from the bracket, and a bolt mounted inthe standard and extended parallel to its slotted wall with its threadedshank in screw threaded engagement with the nut head in a manner toraise and lower the nut together with its associated bracket,substantially as described.

4. In a furniture article of the kind described, the combination with astandard one wall of which is vertically slotted, of a bracket adaptedfor adjustable mounting upon said standard wall, screw threaded meansconnecting the bracket adjustably to the standard and extending in partthrough the slotted wall of the latter, the bracket being formed of twocast sections having a line of juncture which coincides with thestandard slot, there being interengaging elements extended from onesection in lapping relation to the other to secure the two sectionsagainst relative movement, other means for tying the two bracketsections together, and a web extended from each bracket section towardthe other in overlying relation to the nut whereon the bracket issupported, substantially as described.

5. In a furniture articleof the kind described, the eombination of astandard, a nut slidably secured to one wall of the standard andextending in part exteriorly thereof, a bracket adj ustably mounted onthe standard, a bolt extended transversely from the standard connectingthe bracket to the nut and adapted to tighten the bracket upon thestandard, and means independent of the bolt for supporting the bracketon the nut, substantially as described.

6. A furniture article of the kind described comprising a supportingstandard in the form of a pedestal having a base at its lower endandfront and rear walls extending upwardly'therefrom each taperingtomounting, a desk bracket adapted. for mount ing on the rear wall ofthe standard, means for preventing lateral movement of the desk standardon its mounting, interchangeable means for adjustably securing the seatand desk brackets upontheir respective mountings comprising in eachinstance .a member adapted to slide upon thei-nner side of the frontwall of the standard and formed with a head adapted to bear'thereagainst, there being a verticalslot in thestandard through which aportionof the member extends, the member being, further provided withtwo threaded openings, the axes of which lie in intersecting planes, abolt passing through one wall of the bracket to engage with one threadedopening, the bolt head remaining exteriorly of the bracket, and a secondbolt passing downwardly through the cross wall of the standard to engagewith the other threaded hole of the member, the latter bolt beingadapted to raise and lower the bracket upon the standard and the otherbolt to clamp the bracket tightly against the stand ard, substantiallyas described.

7. In a furniture article of the kind described, the combination of astandard the Walls of which are vertically slotted, a member having ahead adapted to rest against the inner side of the standard walls and topresent'a portion of its bodythrough the slot, there being formed in themember a pair of threaded openings, a bolt engaging within one openingand extending upwardly therefrom, means on the standard against whichthe bolt head is rested, a second bolt engaged within the other openingin the member and extending laterally from the standard, and a bracketformed to co-operate with the standard having a supporting connectiontherewith through the medium of the lateral bolt which is adapted toclamp the bracket upon the standard with a variable pressure,substantially as described.

8. In a furniture article of the kind de scribed, the combination ofastandard hav-' pair of bolts entered through the cross wall,

a single bolt entered through one wall of each bracket, a member bearingagainst the inner side of the front wall of the standard and arranged toco-operate with the bracket bolt as well as with one of the cross wallbolts, and a second member bearing againstthe inner side of the oppositewall of the standard with which the other two bolts cobracket may beadjusted Without reference to the other, substantially as described.

9. In a furniture article of thekind described, the combination of astandard the walls of which are vertically slotted, a memberhaving ahead adapted torest against the inner sideof the standard Walls and topresent a portion of its body through the vi slot, there being formed inthe member a pan of threaded openings, a bolt engaging Within oneopening and extending upwardly therefrom, :means on the standard againstWhichjthe bolt head is rested,fa' secondbolt engaged Within the otheropeningin :the member and extending laterally from the standard, abracket formed to co-operate with the standard having asupportingconneotion therewith through the medium of the lateral boltwhich is adapted to. clamp the bracket upon, the standard with atvariable pressure, and co operating means onthe bracket andsta ndard .forpositively. preventing lateral movement of the former relative to thother, substantiallyjas described, Y

GEORGE ABBOTT. 5

ALFRED D. EDWARDS.

